Races - Places.
She battled the whole gamut of physical and emotional challenges, loop after 1.17-mile loop: everything from stomach issues that caused her to vomit midrace to extreme temperatures that left her feeling depleted. She ended up hitting the wall at hour 12.
But all of that was not enough to stop Gardner from claiming her 12th U.S. title—earned in 18:15:45 and awaiting ratification to surpass the 55-59 age group American record set by Sue Ellen Trapp in 2001. She knew she had to keep going to chase that prize money.
After all, running, even at a length of 100 miles at a time, is often the“easiest” part of her day.
In fact, while the 55-year-old from Akron, Ohio, didn’t anticipate these particular challenges at the championship, she did know to expect the unexpected. That’s a necessary mindset to have as a single mom to a daughter with a disability.
For Gardner, whose running career includes 150 ultras over the span of decades, any obstacle that she faces in competition is a reminder of the people in her life who consistently overcome even bigger challenges on a daily basis.
“When I get into a race, I know a lot of people who have worked harder than I have, and I know a lot of people who have struggled more than I have who have been successful,” Gardner told Runner’s World. “I have a lot of people that I think about that I can work with, that help me push through with what I happen to have at that moment."
One of those individuals is Gardner’s youngest daughter Gwen, 25, who was born with developmental delay and diagnosed with schizophrenia—a disorder which can cause hallucinations and delusions—about two years ago.
Her daughter’s determination serves as a constant inspiration for Gardner to keep pushing through the most difficult circumstances.
“I get to live with my best friend,” Gardner said of Gwen. “She works with what she has. In a 100-mile race, you have to work with what you have in that moment, and you try and do the best you possibly can.”
She Runs to Reclaim Her Identity After Assault.
“When I’m in a race and things get really tough, I think this isn’t as tough as Gwen’s day. I have that in my back pocket,” Gardner said. “I see her get through things and accomplish things, and it’s kind of phenomenal.”
After she won with almost two hours to spare between herself and the runner-up, Gardner was able to take home $1,500 for her efforts. Just as she had done after so many victories over the years, she shared the prize with her daughter by treating her to dinner.
Since Gwen and Gardner’s oldest daughter Abby were in school, she has been a single mother doing everything possible to make ends meet. Working odd hours at a running store, coaching high school runners, cleaning houses, working part-time at the airport, and earning prize money earned from podium finishes are just some of the sources of income that Gardner has used to support her family over the years.
Through every challenge, running has been a necessity, a confidence boost, and often a victory in more ways than a title. When she was going through her divorce years ago, she raced ultras on the weekends to cope with the loneliness she’d experience when the girls stayed at their father’s house. Oftentimes she’d win, and for a brief few moments, she’d feel in control, empowered once again.
“I’d go to the race feeling like I’m a failure. You don’t want to be divorced at that age, you don’t want to be a single mom, you don’t want your house to be falling apart,” she said. “I would go to a 100-miler, and it was just so easy. I would just run it real hard and finish. It gave me so much confidence.”
Gardner passed that on to her daughters, both of whom run—Abby in numerous half marathons, and Gwen up to a 50K. But even more important than imparting a love of running was the importance of finding a physical outlet you’re passionate about. And for Gwen, that’s swimming. In the pool, Gwen often beats her mother to the wall. And in those pivotal moments, she too feels confident in her ability.
Just as Gardner embraces what she can control, Gwen finds quiet confidence in the beauty of excelling at something.
“A win for me is a win for Gwen,” Gardner said.
Taylor Dutch is a writer and editor living in Austin, Texas, and a former NCAA track athlete who specializes in fitness, wellness, and endurance sports coverage. Her work has appeared in Runner’s World, SELF, Bicycling, Outside, and Podium Runner.
